Oscar Picks: Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas Staff

By Ben Youngerman & the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas Staff

The Academy Awards are almost here! After all the smaller awards shows, speculation, controversies and questions, we’ll finally see who get all of those golden statues on Sunday!

Our Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas staff is hard at work preparing for the best Oscars viewing party in town: The Red Carpet Party presented by Wegmans! But they took a few momement to make their predictions on who will make Hollywood history at this year’s Academy Awards to help you win your office pool!

OUR STAFF

Ryan Hill, Programming Director
Lauren McAloon, Performing Arts Specialist
Lawrence Milano, Cinema & Comedy Assistant
Anthony DeSanctis, Cinema & Comedy Assistant

BEST PICTURE

Will win:

– The Revenant (Anthony, Ryan, Lauren)
– Mad Max: Fury Road (Lawrence)

Should win:

– The Revenant (Ryan)
– Room (Lauren)
– Mad Max: Fury Road (Anthony & Lawrence)

Comments:

Lauren: I would like Room or Brooklyn to win; they’re both very touching films that have great acting and directing. The Revenant or Spotlight will win based on the following they’re receiving, however. Also, think about who’s voting this year…

Lawrence: George Miller’s return to the Mad Max franchise is an unforgettable, unforgiving, rollercoaster experience and that’s what cinema is and should be about: An experience. His latest post-apocalyptic installment stands out among the nominees as a unique, visually poetic, chaotic, breathtaking, and outstanding achievement in the world of filmmaking.

Best Director

Will win:

– George Miller (Ryan & Lauren)
– Alejandro G. Inarritu (Anthony)
– Tom McCarthy (Lawrence)

Should win:

– George Miller (Anthony & Lauren)
– Lenny Abrahamson (Lawrence)
– Tom McCarthy (Ryan)

Comments:

Ryan: This category is pretty much a toss up between Miller, McCarthy, and Alejandro G. Inarritu, but I think Inarritu’s win last year, combined with his almost-cocky Golden Globes speech, will keep him off of some ballots. Miller will get this as something of a Lifetime Achievement Award, but McCarthy deserves the win. He knew exactly when to ease off the pedal on Spotlight, a film that in less-talented hands would have veered into overwrought pap.

Best Actress

Will win:

– Brie Larson (Anthony, Ryan, Lauren)
– Saoirse Ronan (Lawrence)

Should win:

– Brie Larson (everyone)

Comments:

Anthony: Brie Larson broke my heart in this movie. One of the most powerful performances I’ve seen in years.

Ryan: Saoirse Ronan does an excellent job in Brooklyn, but the role didn’t call for the kind of emotional calisthenics Academy voters require to hand over the trophy.

Best Actor

Will win:

– Leonardo DiCaprio (everyone)

Should win:

– Leonardo DiCaprio (Anthony, Lauren, Lawrence)
– Michael Fassbender (Ryan)

Comments:

Lawrence: DiCaprio’s performance in The Revenant was blistering and incredible. It’s also the best thing about the film.

Ryan: Do I credit Leo for all the hard work that had to have gone into his role in The Revenant? Sure. But do I ever believe Leo in a role that isn’t a smug bastard? No.

Lauren: Tom Hardy should’ve been in this category! I do think Leo should win though, just because he had to eat that raw liver.

Best Supporting Actor

Will win:

– Sylvester Stallone (Anthony, Lauren)
– Tom Hardy (Ryan)

Should win:

– Tom Hardy (Ryan, Lauren)
– Sylvester Stallone (Anthony)

Comments:

Anthony: Stallone brings a vulnerability to Rocky Balboa that audiences haven’t seen before. How he did not win an Oscar for such classics as Over-the-Top, Cliffhanger, and Stop or My Mom will Shoot, I’ll never know.

Lauren: Tom Hardy deserves all the awards.

Best Supporting Actress

Will win:

-Alicia Vikander (Anthony, Lauren)
-Kate Winslet (Ryan)

Should win:

– Alicia Vikander (Lauren, Ryan)
– Jennifer Jason Leigh (Anthony)

Comments:

Ryan: The toughest category to call. Vikander deserves the win for carrying The Danish Girl – a film I only liked when she was onscreen, if then – and her turn in Ex Machina. I’m having a hard time voting against Jennifer Jason Leigh, too… this one is harsh.

A FEW MORE PICKS…

Best Documentary Feature

Will & Should Win:

– Amy (Lawrence)

Music documentaries seem to be a favorite at the Oscars and this year should be and will not be an exception. Amy is a wake up call about the pressures of the music industry, manipulation, abuse, and addiction. This is a film that should be seen by everyone.

Best Animated Feature

Will & Should Win:

– Inside Out (Anthony)

My favorite movie of the year. It should have been nominated for Best picture. Nothing else stands a chance.

Best Original Screenplay

Will win:

– Spotlight (Anthony)

Should win:

– Ex Machina (Anthony)

Ex Machina is one of the most original and intelligent science fiction films ever written.

Best Cinematography

Will & Should Win:

– The Revenant (Ryan)

In any other year, I’d give this one to Carol. But damn, Emmanuel Lubezki, you ain’t bad at this.

The Red Carpet Party presented by Wegmans
Sunday, February 28 at 6:30 PM

Buy Tickets

GIRL SCOUT COOKIE CRUNCH: Caramel deLites® Chicken Wontons w/ Peanut Butter Sandwich® Sauce Recipe

by Kailee Baylor

With the Girl Scout Cookie Crunch now nearly a week away, we just can’t help but get excited to taste all of the delicious culinary creations area restaurants are putting together. And new comers, including students at the Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School, are bursting out of the gate with unique eats sure to satisfy your cookie cravings.

The 2nd annual Girl Scout Cookie Crunch is Sunday, February 28 at the Musikfest Cafe presented by Yuengling. For a taste of what participating restaurants will be preparing, try whipping up the BAVTS’ recipe for Caramel deLites® Chicken Wontons with a Peanut Butter Sandwich® Sauce, then sample theirs at the event on the 28th!

BETHLEHEM AREA VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL SCHOOL
CARAMEL DELITES® CHICKEN WONTONS
WITH A PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH® SAUCE

Yield: 8
Serving Size: 2 wontons

INGREDIENTS

SAUCE
Peanut Butter Sandwich® Cookies, ½ cup
Coconut Milk, 3 Tbsp
Soy sauce, 2-3 Tbsp
Fresh garlic, minced, ½ tsp
Hot Sauce, 1 tsp
Brown sugar, 1 Tbsp
Fresh lime juice, 2 Tbsp
Hot water, 1-2 Tbsp
Cilantro, minced, to taste

CHICKEN
Chicken breast, 1 pound, sliced into thin strips
Olive oil, ½ cup
Flour, seasoned, 2 cups
Eggs, 6
Green Onion, chopped, ¼ cup

WONTONS
10 wrappers

GARNISHES
Cilantro, chopped, ¼ cup
Red Onion, diced, ¼ cup
Caramel deLites®, crushed, 2 sleeves

DIRECTIONS:

Peanut stir fry sauce:
In a blender or food processor combine the Peanut Butter Sandwich® Cookies, coconut milk, soy sauce, minced garlic, hot sauce, brown sugar and lime juice. Blend or process, slowly adding hot water until desired consistency. Keep warm.

Chicken: Slice Chicken thin. Season. Take chicken, dip into flour, then into egg, then back into flour. Add oil into pan over medium heat. Toss chicken and green onions in pan and sauté until golden brown. Then bake until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Shred thinner if needed.

Wonton wrappers: Add olive oil to pan over medium high heat. Fold the wonton wrapper into a triangle but do not seal. Fry or bake until golden brown on one side, turn, and fry until golden brown on the other side.

TO ASSEMBLE:

Spread a thin coating of the peanut sauce on the inside of the fried wonton. Add the chicken and top with crushed Caramel deLites® Cookies, minced cilantro, and red onions.

Serve and enjoy!

Girl Scout Cookie Crunch
All Ages
Sunday, February 28
Musikfest Cafe presented by Yuengling

Buy Tickets

Ben Folds: Five Favorite Videos

By Ben Youngerman

Over the last couple decades, singer-songwriter Ben Folds has been one of the best storytellers in the entire music scene. He can brilliantly paint a picture using his piano and lyrics. Something you can experience LIVE when Ben Folds & yMusic headline the Yuengling Summer Concert Series on July 14th.

But when Ben Folds adds a visual touch to enhance songs in his music videos, the storytelling is raised to a whole new level. Funny, exciting, cameo-laced and overall entertaining, these are our five favorite Ben Folds music videos!

5. “Learn to Live with What You Are”

Ben Folds living a secret double-life as a pirate?! Yes, please. Maybe he’ll get a cameo in the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean sequel…

4. “One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces”

We now know why Ostriches like to stick their heads in the ground: they’re watching secret underground Ben Folds concerts.

3. “Hiroshima (B B B Benny Hit His Head)”

Ben Folds fell off stage and lived to record a song about it. We’re ever so glad he’s okay and that he decided to use stop-motion animation to tell the tale.

2. “Rockin’ the Suburbs”

From the initial nose wiggle, through the onslaught of Ben Folds clones, with a Weird Al Yankovic cameo, rocking out in a cul-de-sac and ending with a parody of Korn’s video for “Freak on a Leash”, this video is a whole bunch of late-90’s suburban awesomeness. Put down your N64 controller and check it out.

1. “Do It Anyway”

To celebrate their 30th anniversary, the Fraggle Rock crew emerged from their underground hiding to collaborate with Ben Folds. If having the Fraggles wasn’t enough fun, throw in appearances from Anna Kendrick, Rob Corddry and Chris Hardwick. This isn’t just our favorite Ben Folds video, it may be our favorite music video EVER!

BEN FOLDS & YMUSIC
THURSDAY, JULY 14
STEELSTACKS
Part of the Yuengling Summer Concert Series

Buy Tickets

Crazy Places Robert Randolph & The Family Band Have Played

By Ben Youngerman

Robert Randolph and the Family Band are so infectious, so lively and so much fun that they could get us up and dancing just about anywhere!

In honor of the pedal steel guitarist and his incredible band headlining Blast Furnace Blues presented by Highmark Blue Shield, we’ve put together a list of the crazy places where Robert Randolph and the Family Band have entertained their fans!

RR&TFB have played on the college quad…

https://player.vimeo.com/video/104665360

RR&TFB have played while taking a nap…

RR&TFB have played at a costume store…

RR&TFB have played at a completely empty restaurant…

RR&TFB have played at halfcourt of a Knicks game…

RR&TFB have played while shopping for new threads…

RR&TFB have played at the dentist…

RR&TFB have played while trying to go blonde…

RR&TFB have played while waiting for the grocery store to open…

RR&TFB have played at their Miracle-Ear appointment…

RR&TFB have played in old shipping containers…

RR&TFB have played NEXT TO BILL MURRAY…

RR&TFB will play across from an old steel mill on March 12th…oh, wait…that’s US!

ROBERT RANDOLPH AND THE FAMILY BAND
SATURDAY, MARCH 12
Musikfest Cafe presented by Yuengling
PART OF: BLAST FURNACE BLUES

Buy Tickets

Meet the “Pretty Good” Musician with a 5lb. Alarm Clock: Eric Hutchinson

by Kailee Baylor

With international hits and performances alongside artists like Kelly Clarkson and Jason Mraz under his belt, it’s safe to say that platinum-selling pop-rocker Eric Hutchinson is pretty good. That’s why we couldn’t help but ask him about his new album, who he’s dying to perform with and why he posts so many photos of his dog, Elmer, on Instagram (@EricHutchinson). Get to know him before his show March 5 in the Fowler Blast Furnace Room of the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks:

How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it before?

Eric Hutchinson: A good time! I grew up loving The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel and Paul Simon, so my music is very rooted in classic songwriting.

You’ve performed with top musicians such as Kelly Clarkson, Jason Mraz, OneRepublic, O.A.R. and Pentatonix. Is there an artist or group that you’re hoping you’ll one day be able to add to that list?

Eric Hutchinson: I want to open for Billy Joel at his monthly Madison Square Garden show. If anyone out there knows Billy, please put in a good word for me.

A photo posted by Eric Hutchinson (@erichutchinson) on Aug 1, 2015 at 3:35pm PDT

Your latest album, Eric Hutchinson Is Pretty Good, is slated for an early 2016 release. What can you tell us about that album?

Eric Hutchinson: I’m really excited to share it! It’s my most soulful album yet and in many ways the independent recording process reminds me a lot of my first album, Sounds Like This. I produced the album myself for the first time and that was really thrilling to find I knew how to do that.

The album features the power ballad “Anyone Who Knows Me,” which you’ve called, “the song I’ve been trying to write my whole career.” What about that song makes it so special to you?

Eric Hutchinson: I tend to write upbeat songs you can dance to or clean the house while you listen. I have a hard time slowing the tempo down, but this was a song that I worked on for years to finally get it just right. It feels epic in a way that I always admire in other people’s songs. I’ve been singing it live every night and getting a crazy good response from the audience. It’s exciting.

There are quite a few photos of your dog Elmer on your Instagram page. Does he ever come on tour with you?

Eric Hutchinson: Yes! Elmer only weighs 5 pounds, so he can come anywhere with me. He sits under the seat on an airplane, or sleeps in my bunk with me on the tour bus. He’s great for morale, and gets me up early to take him for a walk in the morning.

A photo posted by Eric Hutchinson (@erichutchinson) on Jul 22, 2015 at 8:32am PDT

You’re known for wearing sharp, often colorful suits on your album covers and on stage. Do you have a suit picked out yet to wear here in Bethlehem?

Eric Hutchinson: But of course! Just went shopping this week for the tour.

Anything else you’d like to add or share?

Eric Hutchinson: My show is great for fans and newbies alike. It’s high energy, fun, soulful and a great way to hang out and experience music. Hope to see you there!

Eric Hutchinson
All Ages
Saturday, March 5
Fowler Blast Furnace Room

Buy Tickets

HEARTSQUEST: Things to Do with Your Valentine

By Ben Youngerman

We know that finding the perfect Valentine’s Day date idea can be the most stressful part of a budding romance. So this February, ArtsQuest turns into HeartsQuest as your one-stop lover’s shop for Valentine’s Day entertainment. With live theater, comedy and films spread over the weekend, you’re sure to be struck by Cupid’s arrow!

Tony ‘N Tina’s Wedding: February 12-14 & 19-20

Need something to do with your significant other? Now you can FUGGEDABOUTIT!

Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding is a one-of-a-kind night of entertainment. It’s an Off-Broadway show staged as a festive celebration in which the audience doesn’t just watch but participates directly, from the first toast to the last slice of cake!

Buy Tickets

The “Best” of OkCupid: Sunday, February 14

This Valentine’s Day, experience an improvised take on internet creepers, online dating, and everything that is OkCupid! Featuring the Lehigh Valley’s most amorous improvisers.

Directed by Dan Maher (ManDudeBro, Men’s Health’s Next Top Trainer).

Buy Tickets

The Divas! present: Love is a Four Letter Word:
Friday, February 12

The Divas! are back to make your Valentine’s Day all it should be. Love is a four letter word. When you think of love, what four letter word comes to mind?

These sassy singers will entertain you with love AND hate songs made popular by divas throughout music history. Pop, jazz, standards, and Broadway. No date required!

Buy Tickets

ManDudeBro Saves Valentine’s Day: Friday, February 12

What’s better than Cupid? Four cherubic angels of improvised comedy filling your heart with laughter!

Join the cutie patooties of ManDudeBro, Lehigh Valley Style’s “Best Local Comedian” 2015, on a journey to save Valentine’s Day.

WARNING: They may steal your girlfriend in the process.

Buy Tickets

The Associated Mess: A Lovey Dovey Mess:
Saturday, February 13

After the lovey dovey, cutesy wutesy candlelight dinner, let The Associated Mess lighten the mood. Love stinks, so you might as well laugh about it.

Improv comedy in the style of “Whose Line is it Anyway?”

Buy Tickets

Films at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas

Go for the classic yawn-and-put-your-arm-around-them move!

Snuggle up with a cold Yuengling or mixed drink from our bar while enjoying one of the Oscar-nominated films currently playing in our theaters at SteelStacks.

Now Playing

Hot Glass Experience: Sunday, February 14 SOLD OUT!

Heat up your relationship next to the glass furnaces!

Experience the Hot Glass floor! In this workshop, participants can work along side the glass staff on the Second Sunday of the month while transforming molten glass into a beautiful glass heart. No experience necessary. Ages 6 and up welcome.

SOLD OUT!

GIRL SCOUT COOKIE CRUNCH: Chipotle Shortbread® Mac ‘n’ Cheese Recipe

By Ben Youngerman

The Girl Scout Cookie Crunch is like Christmas for your taste buds! We take already-delicious Girl Scout Cookies and make them even more delicious-er! In this creative food-based event, chefs and restaurants create unique dishes, be they sweet or savory, all of them made with Girl Scout Cookies.

The 2nd-annual Girl Scout Cookie Crunch is Saturday, February 28 at the Musikfest Cafe. To tide you over until then, enjoy this recipe from last year’s 1st place People’s Choice winner!

Iron Lakes Country Club
Chef Ellen Paredes
Girl Scout Shortbread® Chipotle Mac ‘n’ Cheese

– Prep Time 20 minutes

– Cook Time 25 minutes

– 12”x20” metal pan with sides (no greasing or vegetable spray needed)

– Pre-heat oven 350degrees

Ingredients

-2lbs cooked macaroni pasta

-3lb Smoked Gouda, shredded

-2 tsp freshly chopped chipotle peppers, not dried or canned

-1lb shredded parmesan cheese

-2 Quarts of Heavy Cream

-Paprika

-2 bxs Girl Scout Shortbread® Cookies, crumbled

Directions

– Set-up double boiler that allows ample volume

– Once water is boiling roughly, place heavy cream in top

– Once Cream is boiling put heat down to medium and add all shredded cheese and chopped chipotle peppers, let all melt, watch/stirring as to not burn

– Once all elements are melted add all but one cup of remaining Crumbled Girl Scout Shortbread® Cookies

– Thoroughly mix cooked macaroni and melted cheese/shortbread mixture and pour into hotel pan (no greasing or vegetable spray needed), top with the remaining 1 cup of crumbled Girl Scout Shortbread® Cookies and a sprinkle of paprika

– Place in oven on 350 degrees; bake for 25 minutes or till golden brown on top

Notes:

Refrain from using oil, salt or pepper prior to cooking; cheeses are inherently flavorful on their own and contain enough oils to keep recipe from sticking to pan

GIRL SCOUT COOKIE CRUNCH
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28
MUSIKFEST CAFÉ PRESENTED BY YUENGLING

Buy Tickets

Staff Picks: Best Films of the Year

(Image from blogs.indiewire.com)

The Academy has spoken, nominating 8 films for Best Picture at the 88th Academy Awards: The Big Short, Bridge of Spies, Brooklyn, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Martian, The Revenant, Room and Spotlight. As the staff at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas, we have our predictions on who will win the awards — although the nominees aren’t necessarily our favorite films or performances of the year. You can check out our picks for best films of the year below.

From now through the awards ceremony (and beyond) we’re showing the best of the nominees. CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT FILM TIMES

Then on February 28, join us for THE RED CARPET PARTY! A night of stars, prizes and fun as we simulcast the 88th Academy Awards – and the Red Carpet arrivals leading up to them – in our cinemas!

RYAN HILL – Programming Director

1) Inside Out

I feel that 2015 was a year of B+ movies, with few As, and only one A+. Inside Out was that A+, a brilliantly-conceived and executed film on all levels.

2) Tangerine

Maybe Tangerine doesn’t have the best script, but it far and away had the most electricity of any film I’d seen in quite some time. I’d want to show Tangerine to anyone even mildly interested in making movies.

3) Spotlight

Much like Inside Out, the people behind Spotlight knew when to ease off on the melodrama pedal, and wisely but effectively told an incredibly important story. Add to it excellent acting and deft direction, and you get a piece of narrative cinema that is arguably much more impactful than any documentary on the subject could ever be.

4) Clouds of Sils Maria

The 2015 movie I spent the most time thinking about, hands down. Incredible acting from Juliette Binoche and Kristen Stewart.

5) What We Do in the Shadows

With the possible exception of Trainwreck (which would have been #11 or #12 on a longer list), I didn’t laugh harder at a movie in 2015. An excellent sendup of our fascination with vampires.

6) Ex Machina

The dance scene = the best scene of 2015. Nope, that one isn’t better.

7) Mad Max: Fury Road

The movie that gave me hope for big budget movie-making, or at least that I might actually enjoy some future big budget movies. Also, a mainstream action movie I’m excited to show my nieces someday soon… haven’t been able to say that in maybe ever.

8) Mistress America

I rank Frances Ha as my favorite film of the past 5 years, so Mistress America had a lot to live up to. It didn’t quite make it thanks to what I felt was a strangely-paced 20 minutes in the middle of the film (when all are at the really nice house outside of the city), but the Baumbach/Gerwig team still wins overall.

9) Brooklyn

I still can’t believe a simple love story captivated me like this one did.

10) 45 Years

A lot of people are talking about Phoenix’s final scene in their top 10 lists, and though I agree with them, the rest of that film doesn’t hold up as well to me. 45 Years, on the other hand, has a gut-punch of a final shot that’s been preceded by a beautifully-paced acting master class from Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay. It’s slow, but so rewarding.

Just missed: Carol, Room, Trainwreck, Amy

Lauren McAloon – Performing Arts Coordinator

1) Brooklyn

This is a solid film, plain and simple. It is a very well told story that is extremely well acted by Saoirse Ronan.

2) Inside Out

I was most excited to see this film in 2015. Pixar put such a complicated story on the screen in such a simple, imaginative way. Very emotional and funny, everyone will take something away from it.

3) Carol

Watch this solely for the set design and costume design if nothing else! The two leads prove that they would win any staring contest. Incontestable pair that deserves to be watched and understood by everyone.

4) Clouds of Sils Maria

Interesting dynamics between Kristen Stewart and Juliette Binoche. I was present from beginning to end.

5) Phoenix

The best part of Phoenix is the last two minutes. What an awesome ending. Nina Hoss plays her character with a perfect juxtaposition of sadness and hope.

6) Mad Max: Fury Road

Amazing landscapes, incredible imagination and awesome use of color. I spent the first half of the movie thinking what am I watching, but in a good way! This will definitely be popular for years to come. Tom Hardy, you keep going!

7) The Revenant

Beautiful cinematography that accentuates the hardships that the characters face in this redemption film. You can tell it’s the first time Leo has eaten a raw bison liver and it sticks with you.

8) Ex Machina

Surprising, interesting, smart science fiction tale that only has three main characters and a lot of plot twists. One of the only roles this year that Domhnall Gleeson should have taken. Also, Oscar Isaac dances.

9) Tangerine and Girlhood

Both films are shot extremely well with limited resources. Tangerine shot on an iPhone and with non-actors pushes you into an underground world of L.A. that most people overlook. The principle actors bring a lot of attitude and personality to the roles. If you are in the mood to watch something off the beaten track this is it. Girlhood is a simple yet powerful coming of age story that touches on a gentle turned rebellious teen trying to make her way in life. Great acting from the lead actor, Karidja Touré.

10) What We Do in the Shadows

This is one of the best underrated comedies of 2015. Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi poke fun at vampire pop culture using a single camera setup to show aging vampires and how they go about their day to day lives. Hilarious and sweet: a must see as usual.

What I’m still looking forward to: Mustang and Room

Anthony DeSanctis – Cinema & Comedy Assistant

1) Inside Out

A funny yet insightful take on psychological tics both common and complex, and what’s more impressive is that it’s easily the most emotionally mature and heartbreaking film I’ve seen this year. Delightful from beginning to end, and also Kyle MacLachlan.

2) The Martian

An incredibly pleasing, touchingly human, genuinely thrilling masterwork. A winning script, great performances, excellent direction, sincere moments of levity with not a moment wasted.

3) Room

The greatest emotional gut punch of the year. Brie Larson deserves Best Actress for this heartbreaking and haunting films that stays with you for days after it ends.

4) Mad Max: Fury Road

Warner Bros. gave 70 year-old George Miller $180,000,000 to go in to the desert for sixth months and make a movie and he comes back with this two hour adrenaline rush. This is easily one of the greatest action films ever made.

5) Spotlight

A tight and well-crafted look at one of the greatest scandals of the 21st century and the journalists who uncovered it. Director Thomas McCarthy’s subtle yet thrilling procedural grabs you emotionally and refuses to let go.

6) Brooklyn

This is a simple story, well told. Easily one of the most beautifully shot films of the year and perhaps one of, if not THE, biggest crowd-pleasers of the year.

7) Star Wars: The Force Awakens

JJ Abrams did it! Aside from a few moments of “fan service at the expense of the plot”, it’s unquestionably the best Star Wars movie since Return of the Jedi.

8) Ex Machina

A smart, sly and sophisticated piece of science fiction, destined to be a cult classic. This is also the year of Alicia Vikander; where have you have been all my life?!

9) Creed

Ryan Coogler returns the Rocky franchise to its glory with this spin-off, which he blends his style the best qualities of the original Rocky film. Sylvester Stallone hands over the Rocky reigns to a man with strong respect for the source material, as well as directing Michael B. Jordan and Stallone to potential Academy Award nominations.

10) Kingsman: The Secret Service

Who would have ever thought Colin Firth could be such a badass? Nonstop fun from start to finish, this over the top love letter to the great spy movies of the past displays Matthew Vaughn’s effortless ability to blend over the top style with rich substance.

Lawrence Milano – Cinema & Comedy Assistant

Even though there aren’t 10 films from the past year that I feel are worth mentioning, here are 7 that I truly enjoyed and stuck with me.

1) Mad Max: Fury Road

Both visually stunning and poetic, Mad Max is a relentless adventure that is able to tell a story just by its breathtaking imagery. It’s truly daring filmmaking on all levels.

2) Ex Machina

The soundtrack, the imagery, everything. It’s a near perfect film.

3) The Hateful Eight

The quickest three hours of my life. Seeing the Roadshow version of the film wasn’t just an ordinary movie going experience, it was an adventure. It captured the emotions you’re supposed to have when watching a movie. Also, the writing, the acting, and the incredible soundtrack makes this one hell of a piece of work.

4) Amy

The exploitation and collapse of one of the music industry’s most talented participants is all exposed here. The film is heartbreaking and alarming.

5) Love

I think I’m just a sucker for Gapser Noe films in general, so I’m a bit biased. This film is another experimental and ambitious project from the French director and holds no punches in subject matter or explicit imagery.

6) The Wolfpack

A beautiful and haunting observation of a unique American family.

7) Montage of Heck

This film removes, in my opinion, the God-like complex of Cobain and instead, paints him as just another individual who lead a life of poor decision making, but at the same time, managed to leave an incredible impact on the entire music industry and remains to be one of my favorite musicians of all time.

Ben Bailey talks about being mistaken as a comedian, predicting Cash Cab, and his new comedy special!

By now nearly everyone has heard of the Emmy Award winning TV game show Cash Cab, where host and comedian @RealBenBailey quizzes unsuspecting passengers of his New York City taxi cab for a chance to win cash. But did you know that he got his start in comedy by being mistaken as a comedian? Or that he drove limos before getting behind the wheel of the infamous New York City taxi cab?

Hear those stories and more in our exclusive interview below:

BEN BAILEY
SATURDAY, JANUARY 16
MUSIKFEST CAFÉ PRESENTED BY YUENGLING

Buy Tickets